Customer Reviews

Showcase Presents: Legion of Super-Heroes, Vol. 1

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

You should know right up front that these DC SHOWCASE reprints are in black and white. For long time fans this is seen as something of a sin, while new fans might find these collected issues incomplete - and they're both right - but, to keep the price down and the volumes bulging with material, a middle ground had to be reached and DC has gone out of their way to present these issues in the best possible light. The artwork is clear, clean and still fresh even without the color, but, I can't lie, the color really MADE some of these issues work.

Superpowers are always on display with the LEGION and in black and white it loses some of its punch - so it's lucky that the stories make up for it. This is the launch of the LEGION, first as a one off issue with SUPERBOY being inducted into the club as a honorary member for all his heroic (and historical) deeds, and then as a full member on call (via a flashing lamp in his bedroom) when they need him. As the series rolls on, and as the Superboy/Superman mythology expanded new heroes and villians would be added to the roll call. Supergirl would become a member of the LEGION (after failing her first try due to some unexpected side effects brought on by red kryptonite and some close minded attitudes from the perfect people of the future, seriously, Supergirl is robbed by the LEGION in their first encounter), and every collected Superpet from Kypton and beyond would get their own LEGION as well as a LEGION of outcasts and casts off from the LEGION (proper) itself.

Truly the LEGION of the 30th century (or the 21st, depending on the writer, year or need for the story - Supergirl would mostly see the LEGION in the 21st century, unless she was a guest star in the SUPERMAN series, then it would be the 30th... but, even in Superman, that would flip as well) became a very busy place for super-heroes. All the groundwork and what would become the "classic" continuity for the LEGION is here. Mon El, the death of Lighting Lad, the creation of the Science Police, and every whacked out time travel adventure you could imagine, and more, more, more - it's all in here, and it's a mess. Continuity is contstantly being rewritten, or just plain forgotten for the sake of the story (Supergirl's first audition would be for the LEGION's heirs - the children of SATURN GIRL, LIGHTING BOY and COSMIC BOY, yet they would be forgotten completely by her next adventure). And sometimes when the series recounts origins or past adventures, writers mix up facts or outright alter them to, sometimes, greater effect, but in one case (found on page 253 - SHOWCASE numbering) to what amounts to murder on Superboy's part when trying to prove that Mon El did not come from Krypton. If you're looking for trivia, then this run of LEGION stories will give you tons of question to quiz people with.

DC has done a good job, and these SHOWCASE editions are an excellent and cheap way of jumping on the bandwagon. While the loss of their original colors is a bump in the road, it does not ruin the ride. Highly recommended.

I've always liked the Legion whatever their incarnation. I like the earliest version because they were stories written in the 50's about teenagers @ the year 3000, by guys born in the 1910's and 20's. Wow. Just hearing that you know something entertaining is going to happen. How on Earth could they possibly create an accurate representation of teenage life in the future....with super powers? But it works, in a comic book. Many people are big fans of these heroes and enjoy the stories as fun simple yarns. Others enjoy them in a post-modern ironic sort of way. I like to do both. Sure it's simplistic and cheesy especially by today's standards, but that doesn't have to be a bad thing. This could even be a good vehicle to get younger kids interested in comics, provided you can explain away some of the surprisingly cruel mind games the Legionnaires sometimes play on each other, motivated usually by petty teen drama or some kind of comic misunderstanding. See what I mean? It's teenage life in the 50's,set in the 30th century, filtered through the sensibilities of guys born when Babe Ruth was a hot young rookie. At least til Jim Shooter showed up.Here's a typical quote ......" Star-Boy is treating me like a queen, yet Superboy isn't jealous one bit. That girl from the future has made him forget me completely."......There are also neat little throwaway bits like when Clark Kent lights his Dad's cigar with his heat vision or the crazy powers of rejected Legion candidates such as Antennae Boy, whose huge antennae could pick up radio broadcasts from anywhere in space/time but who couldn't figure out a way to turn those broadcasts off. Excellent entertainment. There are almost 40 stories in this compilation, here's a sample of what you get:

Adventure Comics #247-Legion of Super-Heroes!-In which we(and Superboy) meet the first Legionnaires: Saturn Girl,Cosmic Boy and Lightning Lad. They mess with his primitive lil' 20th century mind a bit, but of course, it's for his own good.

Adventure Comics # 267-Prisoner of the Super-Heroes!-The Legion imprisons Superboy on Superboy Planet, a planet they created, with super-heroes from around the galaxy, originally to honor the greatest super-hero of all! Quote from Lightning Lad..."We deliberately humiliated you in Smallville so that your shame would make you want to leave Earth".

Action Comics # 276-Supergirl's Three Super Girl-Friends!-Perennial sad sack Linda Lee breaks out of the orphanage she lives in and pals around the future with a few female Legionnaires. She makes eyes at Braniac 5 and a merman named Jerro. And we see Braniac himself commiserating with his little space monkey, Koko. Hehe.

Superboy #89-The Secret of Mon-EL!- In order to answer a question on a history test Clark excuses himself to get a drink of water, then flies at thousands of times the speed of light to travel back to ancient Egypt to find the answer to the question. In order to remain honest, he does take that drink of water, from the ancient Nile.

Superman # 147-The Legion of Super-Villains!- Lex Luthor breaks out of jail with the help of the villains from the future, then helps them construct a plan to eliminate Superman for once and all! Also, Superman flies around Saturn with a really big shovel!

Action Comics # 287-Supergirl's Greatest Challenge!-In saving the solar system from the powerful Positive Man, sad sack Supergirl accidentily robs the Legion of their super powers, then gets trapped in the Phantom Zone with Whizzy the Super-Cat, Streaky's descendent who can read minds.

Adventure Comics # 300-The Face behind the Lead Mask!-While conducting a routine meeting, the Legionnaires powers go dangerously awry. To keep from having to exile themselves from all humanity, they call Superboy to help. The plot thickens with the appearance of a strange android wearing a lead mask who claims he can help. Now why would an android dealing with Superboy need a lead mask?

Adventure Comics # 301-The Secret Origin of Bouncing Boy!-Someone on one of the funnier comic blogs said that Bouncing Boy was an All-American Hero because he gained his powers while screwing around at work. That's about right. Why aren't there any buddy stories with the funniest Legionnaire and the 2nd funniest, Matter-Eater Lad?

Adventure Comics # 304-The Stolen Super-Powers!- The first Legionnaire to die in action is.....?

Adventure comics # 309-The Legion of Super-Monsters!-When you start out with such a simple yet awesome title, it's hard to not be hugely entertained. And so you shall. It's an exciting two-parter where the Legion tackles a rejected Legion candidate named Jungle King/Monster Master, and his LEGION OF MONSTERS! In the end, it's up to Bouncing Boy to bring it on home. Quote---"Later, at the great Space bank which serves to exchange the strange moneys of many worlds Customer:"I want to exchange my Bakkian "living money" for the liquid money of the planet Althar" Teller:" yes sir, that will be four gallons of liquid money due you."

Adventue Comics # 311-The War between the Substitute Heroes and the Legionnaires!- Hey those stuck up Legionnaires had it coming!

Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen # 76-Elastic Lad Jimmy and his Legion Romances-It's as great as you think it would be, every drop. The possibilities of dating Triplicate Girl alone....

These are just some of the highlights. If you are a Silver Age fan, a fan of imaginative and fun storytelling or know someone who is, this volume is worth several times the price.

If you were a baby boomer who read DC comics as a kid, you'll love this collection of Legion of Super-Hero stories. These early years established much of the Legion lore and besides that you get an entire 500+ pages at a bargain price. I especially enjoyed the art of John Forte who's pen defined the Legion for so long.

This book collects the first appearances of the Legion of Superheroes during the late 50s and early 60s. In many of these stories, the Legion takes a backseat to Superman or Supergirl. Despite this, the Legion is one of the best teams in the DC pantheon. Be warned--the comics here are very different than modern ones. Continuity is constantly broken on even the most simple of things (is it the 30th century? The 21st?). But it would be wrong to see these comics as simple tales. The Legion has a Tolstoyian number of characters in both lead and supporting roles. There are also some very powerful stories--including the death of one of the members. While there are some stories that are weaker than others here, this is a very solid and entertaining collection of comics. One other thing. With a low price and hundreds of pages of fun, this is an excellent book to give children who are interested in reading comics.

This is a cracking book. The Legion of Super Heroes was always a big favorite of mine in the past with the same thought pattern as getting the Justice League of America in that you got a whole lot of heros for the price of one. You will either love this or be indifferent.
Well the series does not fail to entertain. You can see how the origin of the Legion started and gradually refined over a few guest appearances in Superboy and Superman. Finally the Legion gets into it's stride and we start to see a little of life in the far distant future whioch is a major draw along with the super powers. The stories start out a little tame but are not as naive nor as childish as say Green Lantern. They have aged very well. Now to the quality. You get a lot for your money well over 538 pages for under a few dolars. All in black and white and on cheap paper BUT hey this is disposable nostalgia for the over 50s. So cheap as the chips which would be right at home in this quality of paper.@
NOW bring on the LEX Luthor showcase!!!
*(French fries) in American @ In Enland in post war they would be wrapped in yesterdays newspapers to conserve rare resources.

This book was a great read from cover to cover some of it was a bit cheesy (malt shops in the future for instance) but some of it was also down right inspired (the death of lightning lad) all in all this is a great addition to any comic collection

GREAT FUN LITTLE STORIES FROM THE SILVER AGE. MYSELF AND MOST EVERYONE WHO PURCHASED THIS, WOULD HAVE PAID AN EXTRA $10.00 MORE THOUGH IF DC / WB WOULD HAVE COLORED IT.